Vietnam's consumer price index up 0.51% in January

The consumer price index (CPI) in January rose by 0.51% compared to the previous month and by 2.65% compared to the same month last year, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported on January 29.

Consumer prices in January rose by 0.51% against the previous month.

According to the GSO, the increase in January’s CPI was primarily driven by higher fuel and power costs, hikes in healthcare costs and greater consumer demand ahead of the Lunar New Year.

The national statistical agency said price gains were recorded in 10 out of 11 groups of goods and services used to calculate inflation.

The largest increases were seen in medicine and healthcare services, transport costs, building materials and utilities, which rose by 1.83%, 1.17% and 0.55% respectively, GSO data showed.

Food and restaurant services rose by 0.44%, clothes and footwear items edged up0.34% while post and telecommunications costs fell by a slight 0.09%.

Other groups saw price rises of between 0.03% and 0.4%.

(Source: NDO)